1946's Delayed Fifteenth
It all started innocently when Ted andPatty Fajen flew into town on Tuesday to start lining up the arrangements. Ted, our exuberant Reunion Co-Chairman, managed to keep things moving with his ever-present, attention-getting triple fluted duck caller, and Patty managed to keep him going with well-placed words and bits of advice. Except for Sunday, of course, when a friendly swimming pool claimed both of them, clothes and all! Frank and Pat Ettari were a close second on arrival, and Frank, our other efficient Reunion Co-Chairman, lost no time in tying down any loose ends. By the time the rest of us arrived, the stage was set for a gala weekend, and all of us who were there thank the four of you for a job extremely well done. Frank, the coal baron of '46, and our new Class Treasurer, was last seen wandering, somewhat dazed, into the sunset, having said goodby to all of the 198 people who had the strength to leave town.
Though many were on hand to relax and soak up the sun during the day on Friday, festivities officially began with a welcoming cocktail party at 5:00 P.M. Fred and JoyceCaswell and Jim and Fran Casserly were seen welcoming old friends, while Art andShirley Harrison and Al and Betty Herlich enjoyed that good old Hanover atmosphere. Al and Carol Garber were on hand, and Al obviously took this early occasion to completely relax, since he felt his skills as a pediatrician might be called upon later in the weekend.
Bill and Daisy Rogers took particular delight in "renewing old acquaintances." After many years' absence, they obviously enjoyed getting back into the swing of things - that is, after Jack and Jean Whitman and Hamand Nancy Bailey let them relax from the rigorous hills of the golf course and hot sun of the tennis court. Bill never left the "safety" of the tent from that point on. Jack (our new Class Chairman) and Jean Whitman spent so much time playing cordial host and hostess that they had to stay in town an extra day to get to know each other again.
About this time Al and Hilda Belinkie arrived, and Al started to build his reputation as Mr. Esquire of '46. From the Inn porch to the golf course he was the personification of J. Press. The mob scene was now starting, and Paul and Mary Donovan, Bill and Marge Striker, Len and Nancy Wilson, and Bob and Pat Levinson were all seen trying to shoulder their way through the crowd to the big table where the happy jingling of ice in glasses brought back happy memories. Of course, there are always those who don't have to struggle, and suddenly a path cleared, and in strode Big Chuck Sweeney, ever-present cigar in mouth, protected by perky Peggy.
Particularly happy to see Chuck were Jack and Nona Sayers. Jack stayed happy until he read the Wall Street Journal Saturday morning, but even that couldn't hold him down, and by nightfall Dartmouth Spirit (or some other brand) had him back in good shape.
Sitting around the tables outside the Gym were Jim and Barbara Kelley, who saw a lot of friends they knew when they both lived in Hanover. Paul and Joan Englehart and their three lovely girls enjoyed the chicken dinner, as did Steve and Rosemary Kenny,Jim and Casey Joiner, and Mike and Lois Marzano. Walt Snickenberger enjoyed lounging on the plush New Hampshire lawn, having been allowed by the Big Red at Cornell to spend 72 happy hours reminiscing about the Big Green. Walt, our congratulations on having been appointed Dean of Admissions at Cornell.
Bob and Dot Clifton happily debated the relative merits of old and new architecture on the Hanover Plain, while at other tables AI and Peg Lilly, Leon and Jay McKenzie, and Bill and Mary Rosenfeld finished their dinners before the rains came. Our old neighbors at Wigwam, Jim and Gene Vonrohr, started the retreat back to the tent, and later made themselves famous by getting the whole gang singing the old familiar songs.
Friday night's party started out strong with the music of Ralph Truman, and Philand Marge Strusacker took the prize for Best-Dressed of the evening. Jim and AiryLynch continued the grand welcome for old roomie and new "classmate" Doug Tesciiner, who with wonderful wife Bette decided earlier in the day that '46 was the only class for them and initiated proceedings in that direction. They had such a good time that they helped to clean out the storeroom before they left (at the expense of Doug's wallet and Bette's blood-pressure). It certainly was nice having them with us.
Our ambassador from Virginia, Mort Thalhimer, had sufficiently recovered from wife Nancy's afternoon antique shopping in Vermont to thoroughly enjoy the evening, as did our distinguished barrister from Denver Fletch Thomas. We certainly had them in from far and wide, but the prize for the longest commute clearly went to Bob and Liz Poet who casually motored in from California with their four fine children. The California Comet was refreshingly sentimental about his return to the Hanover Hills and helped to make us all realize even more what a wonderful school we went to and how good it was to be back.
Saturday morning dawned brightly and everyone gradually made their way to the tent where breakfast was served by Genial Jim McFate of the Hanover Inn. Jack andBeth Ulrich had already played four sets of Westchester-type (good, that is) tennis with Bob and Jean Winstanley by the time most of us lifted, the first glass of orange juice, proving that there's still life in the old class after all. Frank and Mary Jane Cole, who arrived for reunion early and stayed later than most, were there and the three Cole children provided piano music on and off all morning. Also enjoying the sunny morning were Jay and Renie Bruemmer, Dick andMarcia Allen, Rich and Marge Kelley with Christopher and Karen, Bob and AudreyPenssnith, and Mark Shelley with his daughter and friends.
The Class Meeting was held in Baker Library, then on to the Class Picture and lunch at the tent. Walt and Marie Wolk, Bill andMarjorie Wyeth and Wade and Elaine Stier-8hoff with son Duane all enjoyed the de- licious hamburgers grilled on the spot by Hanover Inn personnel. Same goes for George and Lois Swick, Bill and Grace Beckwith with Bill and Linda, John and Lucey McClelland, George and Nancy Razee and Harry and Anne Sarkisian. Ken Hurd who looked as if he needed at least six hours' rest after a tour of the Hanover Golf Course, was being revived by wife Took.
But no one had much chance to rest because it was on to Keenes in Etna for the picnic. First in the old swimming hole were Jim and Marjorie Barnet. Gentleman Jim, the Jato King, later distinguished himself by donating many packages of his Aerosal Corporation products to the Raffle. He was also busy keeping Rex Sleighter's mind off the shoe business and out of trouble. Next in were Ham and Nancy Bailey who had previously spent a few frustrating hours with Nort and Blanche Virgien and Don andMargaret Furber looking for Furber's private swimming hole "somewhere" in New Hampshire. Needless to say they didn't find it. Bill and Mary Trump enjoyed the swimming, particularly Bill who kept busy catching salamanders all around the pond, while Tom Burnap swam with his glasses on to make sure he didn't bump into the same animals. Tom's wife Pete kept busy making sure that Tom stayed afloat.
Meanwhile, back on the lawn, Gene andGail Bokor (Gene is our efficient new Newsletter Editor) were sitting comfortably, surrounded by hundreds of questionnaires to pass out to all assembled for statistics and information. Be sure that you send those in to Gene - he's promised to share the information with me - and we both need it. Tom and Emilie Adams commuted from Emilie's parents' home in Woodstock, but Tom found plenty of time to continue his superb job as Class Agent. At that point we were way ahead of last year so Tom is hopeful that we'll break all existing records for '46 this year in the Alumni Fund.
Dick and Lucy Bowser, in the middle of home moving, found the relaxing enjoyable. Abe and Joan Hinman were having a great time and Abe donated several pieces of very nice Revere Ware at the Raffle. It is rumored that Bill Schulting had to resort to cheating to beat wife Anne at casino. Max and PatPryor were at ease since their three children were having such a good time. Same goes for Jim and Mary Shute except that he was somewhat tired from chasing cute little Jimmy and Sara all over the Hills of New Hampshire.
Robbie and Joan Smith were very much in evidence and Joan offered one of her superb portraits in the Raffle. Lucky winner was "Big" Owen who posed for the portrait while husband Bob watched proudly. Joeand Jean Kraatz were nattily attired for picnicking. The ex-scale salesman was disappointed that Bill Riley and CharlieHamilton did not make the trip but was having a great time in spite of it. Obie andBetty Nan Obermayer were busy gathering choice bits of New Hampshire lore for Obie's newspaper while Frank Guarini, SteveOlko and Al Nazarek made sure that all the ladies were well attended. Bob Hooper who arrived just in time for the picnic with his lovely spouse, had to catch up fast on all the goings on. It was great to see Don andMary Lou Fitzsimmons, who could not stay away long from his duties as Chaplain at the Weymouth Air Base, but had the interest to drive up to Hanover for a short visit of only three hours.
Dr. Milt Cooper and Lilla were on hand if any medical problems arose, and Dr. JimPert and Trudy might have helped if Jim hadn't been so tired. Jim tried to out-twist daughter Caren the night before but Caren took the prize as the best young twister of the group, and really showed most of us old-folks up. Son Jimmy had to take care of Dad the next day. Speaking of prizes, Bill Burner won the Men's Golf Trophy and Anne was suitably proud. On the distaff side, Joan Woolman won the prize. Of course, EdWoolman won a beautiful Bates plaid bedspread in the raffle and rumor has it that he's now having it made into a suit to outdo his fellow Chicagoans.
The picnic lasted all afternoon and then we went back to Hanover in air-conditioned buses hired for the occasion. Back at the tents, completely surrounded by the magnificent sounds of a band made up of 5 fugitives from the Barbary Coast group, the Saturday night party got into full swing. Bob and Connie Albrecht started the proceedings with a great exhibition of the Limbo. How's your back, Robert? Another Limbo-er of great repute was Doug Leigh whose previous reputation has been confined to art and the original drawing of Frankly the Dinosaur. His good wife Nancy out-did him in the clothes department however. Not to be out-done, Don and Jackie McNally were great on the twist. Don had previously established himself as the Class Picture Comedian. Fred and Emma Robbins and Charlie Whitmore tried to make themselves heard over the terrific din while Jack Rankin spent half of the evening chaperoning attractive daughter Linda and checking out the young Dartmouth undergraduates on hand in the early part of the evening.
Dave and Jean Weld had great fun and Dave certainly was back in true form, looking particularly good Sunday A.M. It sure was nice of him to stay up until daylight to help one of his classmates pack. Word has it that Fred and Mary Frances Wightman were disturbed by callers around 4 A.M. and were awakened by children Gail and Charles to answer the call. Ben and Marjorie Moats made sure they could continue twisting by personally hiring a twist band at 3 A.M. In the morning Ben started to build his reputation as 20th Reunion Chairman by making the milk punch.
"Frankly" reigned supreme over the whole weekend, and since he is still in our possession, we are looking forward to having him wave mightily over the terrific twentieth. All of which reminds us of old friends, Andy and June Murtha, who rebuilt him and then had to miss reunion. Thanks, Andy, for your wire from South America.
Men, women, and children of 1946 thoroughly enjoyed their delayed fifteenth reunion.
With their familiar banner prominently displayed, 1947's fifteenth reunion was recorded.
CLASS SECRETARY
